6 |
6 |
7 \begin{document} |
7 \begin{document} |
8 |
8 |
9 \section*{A Crash-Course on Notation} |
9 \section*{A Crash-Course on Notation} |
10 |
10 |
11 There are innumerable books available about compilers, |
11 There are innumerable books available about compilers, automata theory |
12 automata theory and formal languages. Unfortunately, they |
12 and formal languages. Unfortunately, they often use their own |
13 often use their own notational conventions and their own |
13 notational conventions and their own symbols. This handout is meant to |
14 symbols. This handout is meant to clarify some of the notation |
14 clarify some of the notation I will use. I appologise in advance that |
15 I will use. I appologise in advance that sometimes I will be a |
15 sometimes I will be a bit fuzzy\ldots the problem is that often we |
16 bit fuzzy\ldots the problem is that often we want to have |
16 want to have convenience in our mathematical definitions (to make them |
17 convenience in our mathematical definitions (to make them |
17 readable and understandable), but other times we need pedantic |
18 readable and understandable), but sometimes we need precision |
18 precision for actual programs. |
19 for actual programs. |
|
20 |
19 |
21 \subsubsection*{Characters and Strings} |
20 \subsubsection*{Characters and Strings} |
22 |
21 |
23 The most important concept in this module are strings. Strings |
22 The most important concept in this module are strings. Strings |
24 are composed of \defn{characters}. While characters are surely |
23 are composed of \defn{characters}. While characters are surely |